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A EEN m MARE A. ,sf/Kw? ATTORNEKS Ema. 2% i9@ H. A. MmLQFsKY FED NECHANISM filed March 25, 1955 United States @arent reen MECHANISM Haaren A. Miklofsky, lrince Georges County, Md., as-

signor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application March 25, 1955, Serial No. 496,956

16 Claims. (Cl. 1933-31) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a feed mechanism and feed mechanism to conduct articles which are traversing a L chute one behind the other into a series of tracks parallel to each other.

Another object is to provide a feed mechanism to conduct articles which are traversing a chute one behind the other into a series of tracks parallel to each other, and to distribute the articles evenly into the series of tracks.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detailed plan view of the feed mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side View of Fig. 3, partly in section, and

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a vibrating feeding `device 1t) which causes articles placed in the bowl 11 thereof to proceed along a helical path 12 in the bowl 11 to the chute 13, down which the articles will slide. Vibrations are imparted to the bowl 11 by a motor 14 therebeneath, the motor 14 being mounted on a pedestal support 15.

The article which the present invention was specifically adapted to handle is a square ceramic wafer, but any similar article could be handled by the invention.

Above the chute 13 there is placed an electric eye 16, for a purpose to be set forth hereafter. Downwardly of the electric eye 16 is a trap 17, and a series of parallel tracks 18, 19, 29, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27, each but one having a gate 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. The track 27 has no gate. The tracks 18 through 27 are each connected to a chute 37 which extends below the trap 17. It will be understood that the number of tracks is immaterial to the invention; the number may be higher or lower than the ten tracks shown. Below the tracks 18 through 27, and in line therewith, is a series of conveyor belt elements 38 made of a helical wire, so that each revolution of the helical wire provides a space to hold one of the articles. The elements 3S are driven by a drum (not shown) and pass over the idler drum 39 supported by an 2,821,236 Favtenteci Jan. 28, 1958 ice E axle 40 mounted in bearings 41, 42 carried by a supporting frame 43. An anchor 44 secures the pedestal 15 to the frame 43.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 for a more detailed description of the operation of the invention, there is shown in Fig. 3 the lower end of chute 13 leading to the trap 17. The chute 13 comprises a bottom plate 56 and side plates 51, 52 to prevent articles from sliding ol the chute 13.- A bottom plate 53 of the trap'17 is pivoted neat its lower end about a pin 54 mounted in the surrounding framework 55. Bottom plate 53 has near its upper end 53a a transverse slot 56 therein through which the upper end 57 of a bar 58 protrudes in one position of the bottom plate 53. Bar 53 is mounted on the lower' end of chute 13.

Mounted below the framework is a bearing 59 in which is journaled a shaft 60. Shaft 66 is also journaled in a bearing 61, and has on its upper end a cam 62. Intermediate the bearings 59, 61 on shaft 6d is a pulley 63 having thereon a belt 64 which is actuated by an electric motor, not shown. Cam 62 bears against the' lower side of bottom plate 53 of trap 17 and causes it to rise and fall slightly, as shown by the dotted line positionV of bottom plate 53 on Fig. 4.

On the lower end of shaft is a pinion gear 65 which meshes with a large gear 66 on shaft 67. The pitch diameters of the pinion gear and the large gear 66 are in the ratio of 1 to l0. Shaft 67 is supported beneath the tracks 1S through 27 by a bearing 63 and by other bea-rings, not shown. Also mounted on shaft 67 are nine cams, of which cams 69, 76 and 71 are shown. As may be seen from Fig. 5, cam 7@ is generally circular and has a single riseA 72. Each of the cams has the same shape as cam 70, and each of the cams is rotated one tenth of a circle (36) from the cam immediately above it. Between the bottom cam and the top cam is a gap of 72.

As shown on Fig. 3, a base plate 73 is mounted below the framework 55, and forms the bottom plate of the tracks 18 through 27. Mounted on the base plate 73 are a series of parallel railsr of which rails 74, 75, 76, and 77 are shown in Fig. 3. Rails 74 and 75, together with bottom plate 73 form track 18; rails 75 and 76 together with bottom plate '73 form track 19, etc. Each of the tracks 18 through 26 is controlled by a gate 28 through 36. Gate 2S, to which all the other gates are similar, is mounted for rotation about pivot pin 78 which is mounted on the base plate 73. Adjacent to pivot pin 78 is a slot 79, through which extends and actuator pin 80, the lower end of which is in contact with cam 7i). An anchor pin 81 secures rail 75 to base plate 73, and eX- tends through base plate 73, as shown in Fig. 5. One end of a spring S2 is attached to the anchor pin 81 and the other end is attached to actuator pin Sil. Spring 82 serves to maintain actuator pin ii in Contact with cam 70.

ln operation, the bowl 11 of the vibrating feeding clevice 16 receives a charge of articles, the motor 14 is energized and articles are caused to travel up helical path 12 and onto chute 13. Also, the motor for belt 64 is ener'- gized, causing pulley 63 to rotate shaft 6G. Cam 62 on' shaft 6i) causes bottom plate 53 of trap 17 to pivot to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 once for each rotation of shaft 6i). Assuming that bottom plate 53 is in the upper position when the lirst articles sliding down chute 13 reaches trap 17, the article will lodge against the upper edge 53a of bottom plate 53. As cam 62 continues to rotate, bottom plate 53 will pivot downwards, until it is flush with bottom plate 50 of chute 13. The article will then be released, and will slide downward on bottom plate 53 and lodge against the end 57 of bar 58, protruding through slot 56 in bottom plate 53. Up'on the next revolution of cam 62, bottom plate 53 will be rotated upwardly, and end 57 of bar 53 will no longer obstruct the article so that it will continue its course through trap 17. Meanwhile a second article, in line on the chute 13 behind the first article, will be caught on the upper edge 53a of bottom plate 53, and will be allowed to progress in the same manner as the first article, that 1s to say, in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 60. It will be understood that the distance of the slot 56 from the end 53a of the bottom plate 53 is determined by the length of the article handled, and is preferably slightly shorter than the length of the article which is parallel to the axis of the chute 13. This will insure that as one article is lifted over the end 57 of bar 58, the next article will be caught against the end 53a of the bottom plate 53.

For each rotation of shaft 60, shaft 67 makes one tenth of a rotation, or 36. Assuming that just preceding the 36 of rotation of shaft 67 under consideration, the rise of cam 69 approaches the actuator pin for gate 28, which is closed. During the irst few of the 36, the rise will swing the gate 28 open, and during the remainder of the 36, the rise will hold the gate 28 open. At the end of the 36, gate 28 will be caused to close by the action of its spring. During the next 36 of rotation of shaft 67, the same action will occur with reference to the next gate, gate 29. During each of the 36 in which a gate is opened, the trap 17 will permit one article to pass. Hence, when the first article passes trap 17 (first revolution of shaft 60) it will be caught by gate 28 (open during iirst 36 rotation of shaft 67) and be caused to enter into track 18. On the second full rotation of shaft 60, a second article will be passed by trap 17, the next 36 of rotation of shaft 67 will have closed gate 28 and opened gate 29, which will cause the second article to enter into track 19. This action'will continue for nine revolutions of shaft 60, during which leach of the gates 28 through 36 will have opened and closed once. On the tenth revolution, no gate will open, and the tenth article will slide along the length of chute 37 and into the track 27. As noted above, shaft 67 will rotate through 72 between the opening of gate 36 to receive the ninth article and the opening of gate 28 to receive the eleventh article.

When the articles accumulate on chute 13 due to the action of trap 17, electric eye 16 will cause the motor 14 of the vibrating feeding device 1() to be de-energized, to thus halt the feeding of the articles by the vibrating feed device 10.

The invention is not limited to conducting the articles into ten tracks. Any other number may be used, with resultant change in gear ratios between gears 65 and 66, and attendant change in the angle subtended by the rise of the cams on shaft 67.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. 1n a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a diiferent one of said tracks, and means connected to said rst and second mentioned means to supply power thereto.

2. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, and means connected to said first and second mentioned means to supply power thereto.

- 3. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, trap means 4 associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, means to cause each successive article released by said rst mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, and means connected to said first and second mentioned means to supply power thereto.

4. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by lsaid first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said rst mentioned means comprising a separated bottom plate portion of said chute pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end about a pivot extending horizontally and transversely of said chute, and means to cause said separated bottom plate portion to cyclically pivot about said pivot between a position in line with said chute and a position at a steeper angle than said chute.

5. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles lthereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said first mentioned means comprising a separated bottom plate portion of said chute pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end about a pivot extending horizontally and transversely of said chute,nand cam means beneath said separated bottom plate portion and in contact therewith causing said plate to oscillate about said pivot between a position in line with said chute yand a position at a steeper angle then `said chute.

6. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles ythereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said rst mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said first mentioned means comprising a separated bottom plate portion of said chute pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end about a pivot extending horizontally and transversely of said chute, a slot inrsaid separated bottom plate portion adjacent its upper end and transversely of said chute, a detent extending upwardly from beneath said Separated bottom plate portion through said slot, and means to cause said separated bottom plate portion to oscillate about said pivot between a position in line with said chute and a position at a steeper angle than said chute, said detent terminating above said separated bottom plate portion when said portion is in the in line position, and terminating below said separated bottom plate portion when said portion is at the said steeper angle position.

7. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means asso-v ciated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage vdown said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said first mentionedy means to enter4 a different one `of said tracks, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said gates being pivotable to a position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end upward of its pivot end.

8. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for .passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said rst mentioned means to enter a different one lof said tracks, said latter mentioned means asanaso comprising a pivotally mounted gate at each of said tracks lbut the lowest one, each of said gates having a rst position in which it is parallel to said chute and hence blocks olf its track and a second position in which it extends across said chute and causes an article sliding therealong to be guided int-o its said track.

9. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said tirst mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate at each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said tracks having a bottom plate and a side rail on the downward side thereof, each of said gates being pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of the side rail of its associated track and 'being movable from a track closing position to a position in which it lies across said chute.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, and means to move each of said gates in turn to the position in which it lies across said chute upon release of successive articles by said rst mentioned means.

11. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said gates being movable to a position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end above the pivot thereof and means to move each of said gates in turn to the said position upon release of successive articles by said first mentioned means.

12. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said rst mentioned means to enter a dierent one of said tracks, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said gates being pivotable from a first position wherein it lies across its said track to a second position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end above its pivoted end, and means to move each gate in turn from its rst position to its second position upon release of successive articles by said rst mentioned means, said moving means comprising a cam for each of said gates.

13. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said gates being pivotable from a first position wherein it lies across its track to a second position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end above its pivoted end, and means to move each gate in turn from its rst position to its second position upon release of successive articles by said iirst mentioned means, said moving means comprising a cam-shaft and a cam for each of said gates thereon, each of said cams having a rise and each of said rises being offset with respect to the rise of the cam for the gate upwardly thereof, whereby said gates are pivoted to their second position successively upon rotation of said cam-shaft.

14. In a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, means associated with said chute for releasing each of a number of articles thereon for passage down said chute at spaced intervals, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said means, and means to cause each successive article released by said first mentioned means to enter a different one of said tracks, said first mentioned means comprising a separated bottom plate portion of said chute pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end about a pivot extending horizontally and transversely of said chute, and cam means beneath said separated bottom plate portion and in contact therewith causing said plate to oscillate about said pivot between a position in line with said chute and a position at a steeper angle than said chute, said latter mentioned means comprising a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest one, each of said gates being pivotable from a first position wherein it lies across its track to a second position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end above its pivoted end, and means to move each gate in turn from its first position to its second position upon release of successive articles by said first mentioned means, said moving means comprising a cam-shaft and a cam for each of said gates thereon, each of said cams having a rise and each of said rises being offset with respect to the rise of the cam for the gate upwardly thereof, whereby said gates are pivoted to their second position successively upon rotation of said cam-shaft.

l5. The apparatus of claim 14, each of said cams being a plate cam with a single rise, each of said cams for said gates rotating through l/ nth revolution for each revolution of the cam for said separated bottom plate portion, n being the number of tracks.

16. In :a feed mechanism, an inclined chute, a separated bottom plate portion of said chute pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end about a pivot extending horizontally and transversely of said chute, a slot in said portion adjacent its upper end transversely of said chute, a detent extending upwardly from beneath said portion through said slot, a cam-shaft beneath said port1on having a cam thereon in contact with said portion to cause said portion to oscillate about said pivot between a rst position in line with said chute and a second position at a steeper angle than said chute, said detent terminating above said portion when said portion is in the rst position thereof and terminating below said portion when said portion is in the second position thereof, a plurality of tracks intersecting said chute below said portion, each of said tracks comprising a bottom plate and a side rail, a gate for each of said tracks but the lowest, each of said gates being pivotable ifrom a first position wherein it lies across its track to a second position wherein it lies across said chute with its free end above its pivoted end, a cam-shaft in juxtaposition with said gates, a cam for each gate, each cam having a rise thereon causing its associated gate to move from its irst to its second position, said cam rises being arcuately displaced from the cam above it so as to cause said gates to open successively, means to close each of said gates after the passage of its associated cam rise, means to cause said cam-shaft .for said separated bottom plate cam to make as many revolutions as there are tracks for each revolution of the cam-shaft in juxtaposition with said gates.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,399 Rowland Dec. 31, 1872 1,516,409 Scott Nov. 18, 1924 1,749,843 Roark Mar. 11, 1930 1,806,879 Lindgren May 26, 1931 2,127,924 Kimball et al Aug. 23, 1938 2,570,923 Dodge Oct. 9, 1951 

